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This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets… 

Gjanni Alioski is a character full of life. Whether it’s being caught on camera doing something silly or generally playing like someone with far too much energy, he is a player that has divided opinion in the past.

He was slated for his efforts in a win over Brentford earlier this term but was then praised after scoring against Stoke.

The North Macedonia international was again on the scoresheet against West Brom, proving to be the unlikely man to find the back of the net as Leeds ended Albion’s unbeaten run.

It was a crucial goal, one that lifted the spirits of what was starting to become a negative atmosphere surrounding Elland Road.

Watch Leeds United Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Even Marcelo Bielsa was being criticised last weekend so this was a much-needed performance from a team who now lead the Championship.

Alioski was tremendous going forward and registered a colossal five shots. For someone playing at left-back that’s quite the effort.

However, it’s a common acknowledgement that the 27-year-old is good in the final third. He scored seven times last season in the league, popping up with some valuable contributions.

This time, though, it was his all-round game that duly impressed.

The defender, who usually can’t defend very well, showed a new resolute nature to his play as he proved inspired in both phases of the play.

He was particularly poor defensively against Derby and was unable to complete a single tackle. He only registered one interception and that theme carried on versus Charlton.

Via WhoScored, he made no interceptions in the half he played at The Valley either.

But Alioski bounced back tremendously on Tuesday evening, keeping an incredibly tricky attack that boasts Matt Phillips and Matheus Pereira at bay.

As the heat map above shows, the left-sided player was playing deeper and despite the number of shots he managed, he spent large periods sat inside his own half.

Why are Leeds fans the best in the country? Find out in the video below…

Rather than rampaging forward as he did for the goal, he also stayed a pillar of solidity in defence.

Alioski was able to win three aerial duels and three interceptions in what was a much-improved defensive performance.

It’s now up to him to find that level on a consistent basis.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…

Writing in The Times, Tony Cascarino has revealed Scott McTominay is “vital” to Manchester United’s season.

What did he say?

The Scotland international has established himself as a key part of the Red Devils’ first-team under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and has started in every Premier League match this season.

Now, Cascarino has insisted the 22-year-old is “vital” to the United side, particularly after the summer departure of fellow midfielder Ander Herrera.

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He said: “They will miss the tenacity and ball-winning ability of Ander Herrera, but McTominay is a solid option in that defensive midfielder role. He’s not a world beater but will be a valuable player. United are a club who are going through a transition that will take years thanks to the neglect of the past few seasons.

“Solskjaer is putting them back on the right track and hard-working, committed young players like McTominay will be vital to helping him this season.”

Under-appreciated

Alongside the more flamboyant talents of France World Cup winner Paul Pogba, it is easy to just completely disregard what McTominay brings to the table. After all, he’s not likely to ping one into the back of the net from 30 yards or attempt a no-look cross-field pass. He does the simple things to a tee, and that’s exactly what makes him “vital” to United.

This season he has averaged some impressive defensive numbers, registering 1.6 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game – figures that double what he recorded last year. His range of passing can no doubt improve, but the fact that he is also making close to twice the number of average passes per game as he did in the last Premier League campaign speaks volumes to how he is willing to embrace the growing responsibility.

He may go unnoticed amidst United’s abundance of pace and trickery, but he is no doubt just as important as the rest of his Red Devils teammates.

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اعترف أسطورة كرة القدم البرازيلي بيليه، بتحطيم النجم البرتغالي كريستيانو رونالدو لعدد أهدافه في المباريات الرسمية، وبعث له برسالة رائعة عبر موقع “إنستجرام”.

بيليه سجل 767 هدفًا في المباريات الرسمية، وبعد تحطيم رونالدو لرقمه القياسي في يناير الماضي، أضاف البرازيلي لسيرته الذاتية عبر حسابه الرسمي على “إنستجرام”، أنه سجل 1,283 هدفًا.

وقاد رونالدو يوفنتوس لفوز ثمين على كالياري بنتيجة (3-1) وأحرز هاتريك مساء اليوم ضمن مباريات الجولة 27 للدوري الإيطالي، ليصبح رصيد أهدافه الرسمية طوال مسيرته حتى الآن 770 هدفًا.

ووضع بيليه صورة له مع رونالدو وكتب: “كريستيانو، الحياة رحلة منفردة، كل واحد يقوم برحلته الخاصة. ويا لها من رحلة جميلة تخوضها!”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. باراتيتشي: كريستيانو رونالدو مستقبل يوفنتوس وأنباء رحيله تجعلني أضحك

وأضاف: “أنا معجب بك كثيرًا وأحب مشاهدتك وأنت تلعب وهذا ليس سرًا يخفى على أحد”.

وتابع بيليه: “تهانينا على تحطيم الرقم القياسي لأهدافي في المباريات الرسمية، أسفي الوحيد هو عدم قدرتي على احتضانك اليوم”.

وأتم أسطورة كرة القدم: “لكنني أترك هذه الصورة على شرفك وبعاطفة كبيرة كرمز للصداقة التي كانت موجودة منذ سنوات عديدة”.

لا يزال جوزيف بيكان في المقدمة، حسب “فيفا”، وهو الهداف التاريخي لكرة القدم برصيد 821 هدفًا.

هاتريك كريستيانو رونالدو فى مباراة يوفنتوس وكالياري بالدوري الايطالي

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Aston Villa face a trip to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in their final game before the international break.

Dean Smith and his side will be looking to build on last week when they picked up their first Premier League victory of the season.

Wesley’s first goal for the club and an Anwar El Ghazi stoppage-time finish was enough to secure a 2-0 victory over Everton, who had previously kept back-to-back clean sheets.

Watch Aston Villa Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Smith rung the changes for their Carabao Cup tie with League Two side Crewe Alexandra, naming no fewer than ten different players in the starting XI as they swept them for six.

Having won so convincingly with so many of his fringe players performing, will any break into his lineup?

Based on our predictions, the answer is no.

We’ve previously suggested on FFC why 24-year-old Trezeguet should be dropped and Smith may feel the same way after Jota’s recent performances in what would be the only real significant change.

Matt Targett’s injury on Tuesday night hasn’t helped his case, meaning Neil Taylor will be fortunate to continue to operate that left-back role despite averaging such a poor rating at 6.54.

Frederic Guilbert looks the real deal, which has led to fans raving about him on social media. That right-back spot now looks his, meaning promotion hero Ahmed Elmohamady will sit out again.

Marvelous Nakamba impressed on debut – particularly with this bit of skill, but that won’t be enough to knock Douglas Luiz from the starting lineup nor Jack Grealish and John McGinn.

Wesley is a cert to start even despite Keinan Davis’ goalscoring showing, he will be a reliable backup for now and a potential last throw of the dice.

Tom Heaton will continue in goal with his new England teammate in front of him in Tyrone Mings – though the shot-stopper must be careful as his place in the starting XI is under threat if he continues to play poorly – he has an average rating of just 6.19.

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to talkSPORT journalist Alex Crook, Marcos Rojo is on his way to Finch Farm ahead of a £25m move from Manchester United to Everton.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Toffees are in desperate need of a centre-back with only Yerry Mina and Michael Keane currently available to Marco Silva as senior options.

Phil Jagielka has left the club, whilst the Merseysiders were unsuccessful in bringing last season’s loan hero Kurt Zouma back to the club on a permanent basis from Chelsea – Mason Holgate, who was on loan at West Brom last term, can also play at centre-back if need be.

Rojo is seemingly surplus to requirements at Old Trafford after United completed the £85m signing of Harry Maguire from Leicester, leaving Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones and the new boy as options at centre-back along with Rojo – considering the Red Devils play with two centre-backs, that department seems bloated.

Everton would be mad to pay that much

£25m for Rojo? On the basis of what, exactly?

The Argentina international missed a whopping 19 games through injury last term, and made just five appearances for United in the Premier League.

Before last season, he only made nine appearances as a result of more injury issues that led to the 29-year-old missing a quite ridiculous 34 games with fitness issues.

Additionally, at 29 years of age, does the former Sporting Lisbon centre-back represents good value or a good long-term investment by the Toffees? No.

Check out some amazing tekkers in the video below…

Marcel Brands outlined the club’s plans to invest ‘big’ money in young players between the age of 20-25/26, so to make such an expensive swoop for a player who is nearing his thirties and can’t even guarantee that he’ll be fit to play consistently seems like a bizarre move.

Yes, the Toffees are desperate for centre-back additions, but surely they can’t be this desperate?

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Manchester United are thought to have got a step closer in their pursuit of Leicester City’s Harry Maguire this summer, as The Sun are reporting that an £80million transfer fee has been agreed.

The centre-back is expected to head to Manchester imminently to have his medical and could become the club’s third signing of the transfer window after Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James.

It is claimed Leicester would be paid £60m upfront before potentially earning an additional £20m in bonuses and add-ons.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be desperate to improve on last season’s rather poor sixth-placed Premier League finish and keen to rebuild his defence as they conceded 54 goals last season in the top-flight and ultimately missed out on a place in the Champions League.

Their backline has come in for scathing criticism on numerous occasions throughout last year’s campaign, with Gary Neville suggesting Manchester United needed a “new defence in its entirety” following the defeat to Barcelona, whilst Roy Keane, who is hardly one to mince his words, slammed the current back-four and stated his former club needed a complete overhaul after their loss to arch-rivals Manchester City.

Wan-Bissaka’s arrival is obviously a start, but it is evidently clear that a player of Maguire’s stature is required in the backline to help them improve further. As documented by Sky Sports back in January, Victor Lindelof improved significantly as time went by and began to look like the central defender the club have desperately needed.

According to his stats by WhoScored, the Sweden international was ranked as their best centre-back option last season as he made an average of 1.3 tackles and 0.8 interceptions in the 30 Premier League matches he featured in. Add Maguire’s 1 tackle and 1.2 interceptions per 90 mins to the mix and United’s defence could become a lot tighter.

Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly (both registering 1.3 tackles and 1.1 interceptions) and Phil Jones (1.1 and 1.3) may have had better figures in those aspects of the game; however, they had played fewer matches than the Leicester ace did last season.

Maguire made 31 appearances in comparison to Jones’ 18 games and Smalling’s 24.

Strengthening the defence is a priority for Manchester United this summer, despite Jose Mourinho pointing out the issue the previous year, and Maguire certainly appears to be the player to help them achieve that aim – a player the former Red Devils boss wanted 12 months ago.

With the way modern transfer fees are these days, it should hardly come as a surprise to see Leicester demanding £80m for their 26-year-old. It would break the record for the amount spent on a centre-back – £5m more than the amount spent by Liverpool on acquiring Virgil van Dijk from Southampton in 2018 (BBC). But given the season they just had, they surely need reinforcements if a return to the Champions League is to be on the cards.

Man Utd fans, do you think Maguire is worth £80m? Let us know your thoughts by sharing them with us below!

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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news…

According to L’Equipe, former Liverpool target Ousmane Dembele now wants to stay at Barcelona, as the possibility of a departure grows unlikely.

What’s the word?

Liverpool’s attacking trio of Mohamad Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane were exceptional last term, notching 56 goals between them in the Premier League.

However, that reportedly hasn’t stopped Liverpool from showing an interest in attacking recruits.

Last month TEAMtalk reported that Barcelona had given the Reds the green light to bid for Dembele, but any hopes they did have of signing the player have now been quashed.

L’Equipe claim that the French winger wants to stay at Barcelona and has no plans of moving away. That comes after Bayern Munich and Liverpool both made contact with the Catalan club.

Liverpool should be thankful

Last month, we documented the fact that Dembele would be unlikely to get on with Jurgen Klopp because of his rebellious attitude, but there are further reasons to suggest why this would have been a rather needless signing.

If you look at the overall picture, the 22-year-old wouldn’t improve Liverpool, especially given the supreme talent they have in wide areas.

Both Salah and Mane scored 22 Premier League goals in 2018/19, playing predominantly from wide positions. Dembele, on the other hand, scored just eight.

But it’s his overall impact on the pitch that is also worse.

In La Liga last season he averaged 1.3 shots per game. If you compare that to both of Liverpool’s dynamic wingers, Salah had 3.6 shots per outing whilst Mane managed 2.4.

With that in mind, it’s unlikely he’d add an extra layer of goals to the squad. Furthermore, he also wouldn’t offer a huge amount of improvement in terms of creativity. The fact he claimed just two more assists than Xherdan Shaqiri tells the story.

You can relive Liverpool’s Champions League celebrations in glorious 2D thanks to the guys at 442oons in the video below…

Last term, Salah played 1.8 key passes per game. Dembele, who can also play on the right-hand side, made 1.6.

Considering the brunt of their attacks are started by the full-backs anyway, his influence would be narrowed down even more if he did join Liverpool.

If you take all of this into account, the Reds should be thankful that he’s deciding to stay at Barcelona this summer instead of potentially joining them.

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National newspaper journalist Alex Crook said on his official Twitter account on Monday that Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina is up for sale, on Saints fans were quick to say that they don’t want the 6 ft star to leave.

The 25-year-old joined the south coast outfit from Juventus in the summer of 2017, and he has played 52 matches across all competitions for them since, scoring two goals and providing a further two assists.

A lack of consistency and injury issues – especially between December and April last season – have meant that he has struggled to hold down a regular spot in the starting XI, and he only made one start in the five Premier League matches when he did return towards the end of 2018/19 under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Watch Southampton Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

The Gabon international was an unused substitute for the home matches against Bournemouth and Huddersfield Town, finding himself behind the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse in the pecking order.

Despite all of that, Saints supporters are clearly keen for the African to remain at St Mary’s, with one saying it “would be a horrendous decision” to get rid, and another saying “you’re having a laugh aren’t you?”

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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Celtic fans are laughing off the prospect of star midfielder Callum McGregor leaving the Hoops for Leicester City this summer.

On Friday, Rocksport Radio presenter Bill Young reported that a “very, very good source” suggests the Scotland international is on his way to the Foxes for £17.5m.

How does Neil Lennon turn his doubters into believers? The answer lies in the video below…

McGregor was one of Celtic’s stand-out performers throughout Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers’ spell in Glasgow, becoming the team’s key driving force in the middle of the park, as well as a creative goalscorer.

Last season he netted six times and assisted 16 more, playing more matches than any other Hoops player.

Losing him to the English Premier League would be a real blow to Celtic’s chances of maintaining the success they’ve enjoyed recently next season.

Many Celtic supporters refuse to even entertain the notion, believing that there’s no chance this latest rumour is correct and that it laughably undervalues McGregor’s influence at Celtic Park.

These fans have taken to Twitter to share their thoughts…

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Tottenham Hotspur fans have hit out at the club after Spurs congratulated Christian Eriksen on scoring for Denmark.

The playmaker netted in his country’s 5-1 demolition of Georgia in a Euro 2020 qualifier earlier this week.

His performance came in the wake of his admission that he could leave Spurs this summer in pursuit of a new challenge, having spent a total of six years in north London.

He helped the club to the Champions League final in 2018/19 and also to a top-four finish, as Spurs again confirmed their participation in Europe’s elite club competition next season.

Real Madrid have been linked with a swoop, though reports on Tuesday suggested that they could make a u-turn and pursue Manchester United’s Paul Pogba instead.

And supporters have been disappointed that the club have chosen to showcase his fine performance for his country, particularly ahead of his likely departure.

Take a look at the best of the reaction below!